Holding system

ABSTRACT

A holding system for using in the transportation of containers having a circular or polygonal base on a cargo surface of a carrier vehicle or pallet, comprising a plurality of “L” shaped holding devices linked to the cargo surface of the carrier vehicle or pallet and to the base of the container and separated at an angle of 360°/n from each other around the base of the container, wherein “n” is the number of holding devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] A. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a holding system for securing containers transported on carriers vehicles and more particularly to a holding system and device for securing the base of a container having a circular shape to the cargo surface of a carrier vehicle such as railway flat cars.

[0003] B. Description of the Related Art

[0004] There are a number of holding systems for securing the base of a container to the cargo surface of a carrier vehicles such as railway flat cars which prevent the container to slide and/or move during transportation.

[0005] A typical container holding system comprises a set of corner support pedestals for supporting the containers above the cargo surface of the carrier vehicle. Said support pedestals may be linked to another devices for securing the support pedestals to the carrier vehicle frame, such as guide tracks enabling the pedestals to move along the cargo surface of the carrier vehicle cargo surface.

[0006] One retaining device for containers is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,865,047 of Hlinsky which discloses a “container pedestal retaining device for use in a collapsible pedestal container support and securement system for container transportation above a vehicle deck, the system including a pedestal guide track comprising a continuation of the deck, and having a slot and pedestal stowage hole therein, and a container support pedestal mounted on, supported by and slidable along the guide track for movement between an upright container supporting position, and a collapsed position through the stowage hole wherein the pedestal is in generally flush relationship with the deck, the pedestal having a reaction member comprising a brace of a proper width for movement through the slot, and a cross member connected to the brace and being wider than the slot. The retaining device comprises means defining a closed retaining channel for the brace of the pedestal, preferably parallel bars transversely interconnected by means of a rod at their lower ends, and connecting means for securing the channel defining means to the track, the channel being narrower than the pedestal cross member in order to retain the brace within said channel”.

[0007] However, said retaining device is only able to retain containers having a standard sized rectangular or quadrangular shaped base, being impossible to retain containers having a circular shaped base such as tanks.

[0008] Furthermore, since Hlinsky holding system is integrated to the vehicle frame, it is very difficult to adapt another kind of support system which can be adapted for example to hold containers having a circular shaped base.

[0009] In view of the above referred problems, applicant developed a holding system for retaining a container having a circular shaped base of any size, which can be adapted to any kind of carrier vehicle and which can be easily removed from the carrier vehicle allowing the use of another holding system in the same carrier vehicle.

[0010] Applicant's holding system comprises: a holding system for using in the transportation of containers having a circular or polygonal base on a cargo surface of a carrier vehicle or pallet, comprising a plurality of “L” shaped holding devices linked to the cargo surface of the carrier vehicle or pallet and to the base of the container and separated at an angle of 360°/n from each other around the base of the container wherein n is the number of holding devices.

[0011] With applicant's holding system it is possible to securely hold a container having a circular or polygonal shaped base such as a tank or the receptacle for a transformer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0012] It is therefore, a main objective of the present invention, to provide a holding system for retaining a container having a circular or polygonal shaped base to the cargo surface of a carrier vehicle.

[0013] It is also a main objective of the present invention to provide a holding system of the above referred nature which can be adapted to any kind of carrier vehicle.

[0014] It is another objective of the present invention to provide a holding system of the above disclosed nature which can be easily removed from the carrier vehicle allowing the use of another holding system in the same carrier vehicle.

[0015] It is still a main objective of the present invention to provide a holding system of the above referred nature which can be adapted to hold containers having any size.

[0016] These and other objectives and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those persons having ordinary skill in the art, from the following detailed description of the invention which will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the holding system of the present invention holding a container having a circular shaped base in place over the cargo surface of a carrier vehicle.

[0018]FIG. 2 is a top view of the holding system of the present invention holding a container having a circular shaped base.

[0019]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a retaining device of the holding system of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0020] The holding system of the present invention will be described in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein the same signs and numbers, refer to the same parts of the shown figures, the holding system comprising:

[0021] three retaining members 1, each comprising an “L” shaped piece including a first flat portion 2 and second flat portion 3 having a greater length than the first flat 2 portion, the first 2 and second 3 flat portion, each having a first end 4,4′ including a perforation 5,5′ and a second end 6,6′, and being linked by its second end 6,6′ at an angle of 90°.

[0022] In this embodiment the holding system of the present invention is used to hold a distribution transformer to a support pallet 8, said distribution transformer having a circular shaped base comprising a circular skirt 9 being the projection of the circular walls 10 of the cylinder shaped body frame 7 of the transformer under the bottom end cover 11 of the body frame. Said circular skirt 9 including: a first end 12 linked to the body of the distribution transformer 7, a second end 13, an internal circular surface 14 and an external circular surface 15 and including three slots 16 located at the second end 13 thereof.

[0023] The first flat portion 2 of each retaining member 1 is linked to the internal circular surface 14 of the circular skirt 9 by means of a stud weld passing trough the perforation 5 located in its first end 4 and joined to the internal circular surface 14, and each retaining member 1 being linked to the internal circular surface 14 at an angle of 120° from each other.

[0024] The second flat portion 3 of each retaining member coincide with a slot 16 located at the second end 13 of the circular skirt 9 and passes trough said slot, thus avoiding any damage to the circular skirt 9 and assuring that the circular skirt 9 is firmly resting on the cargo surface and not on the second flat portion 3 of the retaining members 1. Each second flat portion 3 is linked to the cargo surface of the support pallet 8 by means of a self tapping screw/flat washer 17 passing trough the perforation 5′ located at its first end 4′ and trough a perforation (not shown) located at the cargo surface of the carrier vehicle (not shown).

[0025] The 120° angle between each retaining member 1 guarantee an optimum weight distribution over the three retaining members 1 and an optimum distribution of the forces generated when the carrier vehicle (not shown) is in movement, avoiding an excessive charge over any retaining member 1 and allowing a secure holding of the transformer or container.

[0026] Although it was described that the holding system of the present invention Is comprised by three retaining members 1, it can be comprised by four or more equidistant (when a straight line is traced between each retaining member or separated by equal angles with respect to the circular base) retaining members according to the needs or shape of the container. For example, if four retaining members are to be used, then for achieving an optimum weight and force distribution over the retaining members, the angle between each retaining member must be 90° that is: 360°/n where n is the number of retaining members used (360°/4=90°).

[0027] Furthermore, although it was described that the first flat portion 2 is linked to the internal circular surface 14 of the circular skirt 9, it may be linked to its external circular surface 15.

[0028] Also, the holding system of the present invention can be used to hold any kind of container having a polygonal shaped base, even quadrangular, to a pallet or directly to the cargo surface of a carrier vehicle. For a container having a polygonal shape, the above described formula: 360°/n, may also be applied in this case making reference to an arc passing by all the polygon edges.

[0029] If the container to be hold does not have any circular skirt, then as it was previously described, the first flat portion 2 of the retaining members 1 may be linked to the external surface of the container body.

[0030] And last but not least, the retaining members of the present invention are not limited to the above described design, and may have any suitable shape or design according to the shape of the container to be hold.

[0031] Finally it must be understood that the holding system of the present invention, is not limited exclusively to the above described and illustrated embodiments and that the persons having ordinary skill in the art can, with the teaching provided by this invention, to make modifications to the holding system of the present invention, which will clearly be within the true inventive concept and scope of the invention which is claimed in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A holding system for using in the transportation of containers having a circular or polygonal base on a cargo surface of a carrier vehicle or pallet, said holding system comprising a plurality of holding devices linked to the cargo surface of the carrier vehicle or pallet and to the base of the container and separated at an angle of 360°/n from each other around the base of the container wherein “n” is the number of holding devices.
 2. A holding system according to claim 1 wherein each holding device comprising an “L” shaped piece including a first flat portion and second flat portion having a greater length than the first flat portion, said first and second flat portion having a first end including a bore and a second end, and being linked by its second end at an angle of 90°.
 3. A holding system according to claim 2 wherein the first flat portion of each holding device is linked to the external surface of the container's base by means of a stud weld passing trough the perforation located at the second end of the first flat portion and wherein the second flat portion of each holding device is linked to a cargo surface by means of a self tapping screw/flat washer passing trough the perforation located at the second end of the second flat portion and a perforation located at the cargo surface.
 4. A holding system according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of retaining members is used to hold a cylindrical container to a support pallet, said container having a circular shaped base comprising a circular skirt being the projection of the circular walls of the body frame of the container under the bottom end cover of the body frame, said circular skirt including an internal circular surface and an external circular surface, the first flat portion of each retaining member being linked to the external circular surface of the circular skirt by means of a stud weld passing trough the perforation located in its first end, and the second flat portion of each retaining member being linked to the cargo surface of the support pallet by means of a self tapping screw/flat washer passing trough the perforation located at its first end and trough a perforation located at the cargo surface of the carrier vehicle, and each of the retaining members placed at an angle of 360°/n from each other, wherein “n” is the number of holding devices.
 5. A holding system according to claim 2 wherein a plurality of retaining members is used to hold a cylindrical container to a support pallet, said container having a circular shaped base comprising a circular skirt being the projection of the circular walls of the body frame of the container under the bottom end cover of the body frame, said circular skirt including: a first end linked to the cylindrical container, a second end, an internal circular surface, an external circular surface, and a plurality of slots located at the second end, wherein the flat portion of each retaining member coincides and passes through a slot located at the second end of the circular skirt and is linked to the internal circular surface of the circular skirt by means of a stud weld passing trough the perforation located in its first end, and the second flat portion of each retaining member being linked to the cargo surface of the support pallet by means of a self tapping screw/flat washer passing trough the perforation located at its first end and trough a perforation located at the cargo surface of the carrier vehicle, and each of the retaining members placed at an angle of 360°/n from each other, wherein “n” is the number of holding devices. 